Tea with Louise hardly compares to Claires former life-or-death responsibilities.
Though, to be fair, those audiences with Louise do provide a certain amount of amusement.
The usually soft-spoken lass makes a startling declaration:
I cant marry a Frenchman!
Credit: Ed Miller/Starz
she sobs to Louise and Claire.
You see, Mary has heard about what Frenchmen do in bed.
And, well, itsscandalous.
An Englishman wouldneverdo such a thing to his bride!
(Oh, young naive, Mary.)
And now Claire remembers with a start where shes heard of Mary Hawkins: She eventually marries Jonathan Randall.
Which means Claire must continue to keep this secret from Jamie.
But she does confide in one Scotsman: Murtagh.
After finding him in bed with her maid, Suzette, Claire is not amused.
She eventually apologizes to Murtagh for her rude response, explaining that she isnt feeling like herself.
Its then that she reveals Jack Blacks fate.
Murtagh is stunned: He saw him trampled!
Murtagh insists Claire not tell Jamie for fear hed run back to Scotland to seek vengeance.
But to Claires surprise, she meets the Comte on the herbalists doorstep.
Master Raymond suggests she volunteer her considerable skills at the local charity hospital, where theyre in dire need.
(After the battle, of course.)
Duverney agrees to speak to the King on Charles behalf.
Thats because she wasted no time offering her services to LHopital des Anges.
(And goodness knows they need it.
The local butcher is their muscle and bone specialist!)
Hours later, having finally found a purpose in Paris, Claire practically floats into her and Jamies residence.
But her husbands all sour, no sweet.
Hes not happy about Claires new occupation.
For one, he doesnt want his pregnant wife catching a disease.
And for another, he wants Claire home to advise him when he gets there.
Claire says thats impossible: Britain and France wont become allies for another century.
While there, he spots a young pickpocket making the rounds.
It sparks something in Jamie, and he goes chasing after the boy.
(Dont tell the Postmaster General!)
The weeks go by with Fergus delivering letter after letter many of them coded back to Jamie.
But one missive gives the Scot particular pause.
Its a sheet of music, and Jamie doesnt quite know what to make of it.
That is, until he remembers something Claire told him about Mother Hildegarde being a musical prodigy.
He brings the sheet to the hospital for the nun to decipher.
As it turns out, the key is the key, as Claire puts it.
Very clever, indeed.
A significant sum, to be sure, but not enough to wage a war.
Hes hedging his bets by playing both sides.
Jamie decides he must make a call on Sandringham to tell him what a bad investment Charles is.
It looks for a moment as though Claire will tell Jamie the truth.
